Tape folding or creasing device



April 27, 1954 c. MILLS 2,676,791

TAPE FOLDING OR CREASING DEVICE Filed Jan. 8, 1951 Cleveland M'Ils mmvroze.

Patented Apr. 27, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v 7 2,676,797

TAPE FOLDING R CREA'SING DEVICE I Cleveland Mills, Neosho, Mo.

Application January 8, 1951, Serial No. 204,879

Th present invention relates to new and useful improvements in folding and creasing devices for light cardboard or other suitable material used in finishing sheet rock wall boards to cover the cracks or corners thereof and more particularly to a hand tool for this purpose.

An important object of the invention is to provide a channel member through which the tape is drawn and which is constructed to fold and crease the tape along its longitudinal medial line.

Another object is to'provide means for pressing the folded tape adjacent its line of fold as the tape leaves the delivery end of the device to produce a tight fold.

A further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is efiicient and dependable in operation, neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view;

Figure 2 is a top plan view;

Figure 3 is an enlarged front elevational view;

Figure 4 is an enlarged rear elevational view; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged bottom plan view.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein 2-.

for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates an elongated body of sheet metal or other suitable rigid material and which is folded along a longitudinal medial line to form an external ridge 6 and having its longitudinal edges folded inwardly to form a pair of guide channels 1 and 8 having united outer flanges 9 and i0 and separated opposed inner flanges H and I2; The upper edges of the inner flanges H and I2 of the channels converge to form an internal ridge l3 which is spaced from the underside of the folded medial line or external ridge 6 for th passage of the tape to be folded.

The sides of the body 5 at its tape receiving end is flared substantially in V-shape in cross section and the inner flanges H and I2 of the channels are flared with respect to their companion outer flanges 9 and Hi to providea relatively wide mouth M at the tape receiving, end

2 Claims. (01. 270-186) of the body under the external ridge 6. The internal ridge I3 is inclined to reduce the throat to a relatively narrow passage l 5 at the tape delivery end of the body and the width of the channels l and ii are likewise reduced toward the delivery end of the body, as shown more clearly in Figure 3 of the drawing.

The inner flanges II and 12 continue outwardly at the delivery ends of the channels i and 8 to form tongues l6 and I 1 and leaf or ribbon type springs 18 and I9 are soldered, riveted or otherwise suitably secured at one end to the outside of the outer flanges 9 and H) of the channels and extend longitudinally in close opposing relation to the tongues at a point adjacent the internal ridge iii to form presser feet to press the sides of the tape as it leaves the channels to produce a tight crease therein.

In the operation of the device, a cardboard or other suitable tape (not shown) is inserted in throat M at the wide ends of channels 7 and 8 and is drawn outwardly at the delivery end thereof. The gradual reduction in the width of channels 7 and 8 and throat M at their delivery ends folds the tape and as the tape leaves the relatively narrow delivery ends of the channels the springs l8 and [9 press against the folded sides of the tape to tightly crease the same.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A tape folding and creasing device comprising an elongated body of substantially v-shape in cross section, an internal longitudinally extending flange integrally formed with each diverging edge portion of the body to provide a pair of channel guides inside the body and extending along each side thereof, said body and said channels being flared at one end to provide a relatively wide entrance end for receiving a tape with the side edges of the tape slidably positioned in said channels and with the longitudinal medial line of the tape positioned at the crotch portion of the body to fold the tape along said longitudinal medial line, a tongue integrally formed with the internal flange of each channel at the delivery ends of the latter and projecting outwardly beyond the opposing wall of the channel and a resilient presser member secured to the outer surface of each channel in the region of the fold of the tape and bearing against the tape as it leaves the channels to press both sides of the folded tape-against the tongues.

2. A tape folding and creasing device compris ing an elongated body of substantially V-shape in cross section, a pair of channel guides inside the body and including inner flanges integrally formed with the diverging ed'geportion's of the body, said flanges being opposed to each other and with the free edges of said flanges forming an internal ridge spaced from the crotch portion of the body, said body and said channels being flared at one end to provide a relatively wide en'- trance end for receiving a tape with the side edges of the tape slidably positioned in said channels and with the longitudinal medial line of the tape positioned at the crotch portion of the body to fold the tape along said longitudinal medial line, and resilient presser members at the delivery ends of the channels pressing the sides of the folded tape against said flanges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 217,889 Manny July 29, 1879 2,400,698 Lissa May 21, 1946 2,592,766 Tincher Apr. 15, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 786,262 France Aug. 30, 1935 

